OCR

76 THE TWIN VENTRILOQ UISTS.
“Did he go to California?”
“Yes, he went to California. Yes, yes, I remember he
did; but come upstairs. I wish to talk to you.”
The old man led the Way to the room on the second
floor, and, remembering what he had seen in the lower
.,part of the house, Ike was surprised to behold the air of
comfort and neatness presented in this apartment.
“Sit down,” said the old man.
Ike obeyed and the old miser continued in an eager
tone:
“Now tell me about this girl who you say is the daugh-
ter of my old friend Sidney.”
‘-1-.-
OIIAPTER VIII.
IKE MAKES A MOST REMARKABLE DISCOVERY AND ALSO
PICKS UP CLUES WHICH ENABLE HIM TO START OUT
INTELLIGENTLY ON A SHADOW FOR THE BOND
THIEVES.
IKE had his own suspicions, but he did not project
them. He was going very slow, as he hoped to draw the
old man on and force him to a very startling confession.
He told the story of Sara Sidney-told it in a straight-
forward, simple manner. The old man listened attenw
tively and betrayed considerable emotion, and he mut- .
tered :
“How unfortunate I have been robbed! How much I
I might have done for this daughter of my old friend! But
alas! I am a poor man now-yes, a poor man.”
“ All your wealth can be recovered.”
“Oh, they all say that.”
I “Who says so?”
“The detectives who have been here; but they will